Maraş, Urfa, Antep - these are the names you can find on the price tags of the piles of bright red pepper flakes at the spice stalls of Eminönü, bustling Istanbul food market. All three are somewhat known culinary destinations in Turkey. Maraş for its thick ice-cream made with salep, powered root of wild orchid, Urfa for its spicy kebabs, Antep for its knowledgeably grown pistachio and skillfully made baklava.
However it is Aleppo, a small village at the border with Syria which has received international fame for its peppers. It came as an absolute revelation to me that Aleppo pepper has become the next big thing in the US culinary world. Is Aleppo pepper really that hot?
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When I just came to Istanbul I was obsessed with getting the highest quality food the money could buy. Istanbul food markets are the horns of plenty with most pungent cheesed, the plumpest olives, the most succulent tomatoes. Moscovite habits die hard! In time I have discovered that good Istanbul home cooks know better and have a few tricks under their belt to get down their cost without going as much down on the quality. And we don’t have talk coupons here.
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Inebolu pazarı, Sunday market in Kasımpaşa where villagers from the Black Sea bring their produce for sale, initially was more of myth to me. Villagers coming late in the night to set up the market before the dawn and wrap up by the time most of the Istanbulites would even consider getting up on Sunday. Top chefs hand-picking fresh village grown produce. Legends from the fairy-talish Black Sea brought in the little vans, large baskets and deep dark eyes. Can that be? Got up at 6 am last Sunday to check out.
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Ah, once I was also seduced by a cheap Gucci silk scarf, overpaid for a bag of apple tea and had a beautiful ceramic plate foisted off on me. All these goodies were then shipped to my parents’ place and stored in a large cupboard. Thanks God, I have managed to avoid buying a carpet. In time I have developed a more practical approach to my Istanbul shopping and whenever I go back home I get only things that would definitely be used and enjoyed by my near and dear. And yes, I am talking about food.
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